Pneumatic grain-elevator.



H. G. LYKKENZ. PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR. AYPLLQATIOH FILED SBPT.B,1913.

1323,3359 Patented Jan.5,1915.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 1.

WITNESSES WITNESSES v H. G. LYKKEN. PNEUMATIC GRAIN ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1913. 1,123,335, Patented Jan.5,1915

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a? ATTORNEY HENRY G. LYKKEN, OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

PNEUMATIC GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

Application filed September e, 1913. Serial No. 788,491.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY G. LYKKEN, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Forks, in the county of Grand Forks and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Grain-Elevator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improve ments in pneumatic elevators designed for use in connection with seeds, grain or other comparatively dry, granular or more or less finely divided substances of which grain may be taken as typical, wherefore the term grain will be used 1n the following description, with the understanding that its meaning is com rehensive enough to cover any substance or which the machine of the present invention is adapted.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine of a type which in compactness is especially adapted for portability, and which may be readily employed for elevating grain to a desired height.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an air suction and forcing means, and on the suction side there is provided a suction duct or pipe which at an appropriate point enters an expansion chamber from which it is branched to the suction side of the air suction and forcing means, and also to the pressure side thereof. Within the expansion chamber there is rovided means for permitting the flow 0 air to the suction side of the pneumatic suction means without carrying the grain with it, and the latter is then allowed to gravitate toward the pressure side of the pneumatic suction means, and the arrangement is such that there is provided a column of grain which will gravitate into the outfiowing stream of air and hence be carried tothe desired high point, and at the same time will operate as an automatic check preventing the flow of air under pressure. toward the suction side of the suction means back through the expansion chamber.

One important feature of the present invention, and which aids materially in the simplification of the structure, is the ar rangement whereby there is provided between the ex ansion chamber and the discharge side 0 the suction means or blower a column of grain or other material when the device 1s in operation, of such a weight as to there counterbalance the efiect of the suction side of the blower.

The invention will be best understood from ,a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark n0 material departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of a grain elevator embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation with parts in section of a somewhat different embodiment of the invention from that of the preceding fi res. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of ig. 5 and showing some parts broken away to reveal more distant parts.

The apparatus of the present invention may be either stationary or portable, but is particularly adapted for portability.

The supporting frame of the device as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 may comprise beams or sills 1 with cross pieces 2 and uprights 3 in turn carrying other beams 4 on which are mounted journal boxes 5 for a shaft 6 at one end of which latter there may be provided a pulley 7, which may be taken as indicative of any means for the application of power to the shaft 6.

Mounted in the framework is a casing 8, and the shaft carries blades 9 within the casing, which blades and casing may follow the usual practice employed in suction and force blowers. I

At a high oint on the casin 8 there is provided anot er casing 10 inclosing a chamber 11, which because of its function may be termed an expansion chamber and one end of this chamber is entered by a duct 12 said duct communicating with the chamber preferably at a low point thereof but above the casing 8.

Within the chamber 11 there is arranged .a series of .bafiles 13 which be simply transverse plates arranged upright'in the chamber and terminating short of both the top and bottom of the chamber. the baflles 11 the chamber has side extensions 14 from which drop ducts 15 to the intake throat 16 of the blower. These ducts 15 are on opposite sides of the casing 8 and open through the said opposite sides into the interior of the casing.

The outlet of the casing is by way of a duct 17 which may be generally tangential to the casing as is customary, but in the particular arrangement. of the drawings, and especially in the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 this duct 16 is in rising relation to the casing, and is assumed to lead to the high point to which it is desired to elevate the in.

Leading om a low point of the expansion chamber 11 on the side thereof opposite the duct 12 is another duct 18 and both ducts are located below the baflles 13 so that the latter. are out of the directpath of the grain passing through the e ber from the duct 12 to the duct 18. In the the duct '18 is shown as conforming to the curvature of the casing 8 and is arranged exterior thereto on the corresponding end, and this duct has an outlet throat 19 entering the tangential outlet duct 17 of the blower.

Within the duct 18 there is a valve 20 so arranged that it will close toward the chamber 11- should there be even a moderate'flow of air through the duct 18 from the throat 19 toward the chamber'll, but this valve will open readily to even a slight weight.

If it be assumed that the duct 12 is carried into a body of grain to be elevated, and that the rotary member 9 of the blower is set in motion in amanner to create a current of air through the duct 12 toward the chamber 11, then such current of air will carry grain with it. As soon as the current of air with the grain reaches the expansion chamber 11 the speed of this current ofair is materially reduced, so that it is no longer able to hold the grain in suspension, or 'to propel it, whereupon the grain gravitates on to the downwardly curved floor of the duct 8 which conforms in shape to the corresponding end of the casing 8, while-the air without the grain rises through the bullies 13 into the chamber extensions 14, and from thence finds its way through the ducts 15 into the intake throat of the blower casing,

and this air freev from grain is driven throughthe outgoing duct 17. 7

--Practice has demonstrated that the" baflles 13' are effective in slowing up the air'stream venterin the chamber 11 and in preventing the gram from following the air stream intothe ducts 15, while the grain thus escaping from the air stream falls-upon the downwardly curved floor of the duct 18 and gravi- Above xpansion chamis carried along with it to the desired high point, while grain accumulates in the duct 18 until it forms a mobile and yet effective seal against circulation of air from the outgoing side of the blower toward the cham ber 11, but this does not interfere with the dropping of the grain by gravity through the duct 18 and past the throat 19 and from thence into the outgoing stream passing along the duct 17. The valve 20 is effective only at the beginning of the operation, and thereafter the valve is inactive, its place being taken by the column of grain accumulating within the duct 18.

It will be observed that the only movable part of the whole structure is within the casing 8.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a somewhat different embodiment of the invention from that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. In the modified form there is shown a casing 8 through which there extends a shaft 6 carrying a multiple series of fan or blower blades 9 and the casing is divided by par titions 21 into a corresponding number of compartments with stationary blades 22 on the partitions coacting with the radial blades or rotors 9.

The multi-blower of- Figs. 5 and 6 has an intake duct 15 communicating with one end of the multi-blower, and at the other end with the multi-blower discharges into a discharge pipe or duct 17.

communication with the chamber 23.

The shaft 6' is supported in bearings 5 in turn upheld by beams 4 which may form part of the supporting framework of the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

I The height of the. chamber 11 above the the rotor chamber 23 is sufiicient to provide a column of grain in the duct 18 and chamber 23 to act as an automatic check or valve preventshown in Figs. 3 and 4. Because ofthe suc-' tion created in the duct 15 and chamber I1 the air stream is created in the duct 12 and the latter coming from a supply of grain causes the grain to be drawn into the chamber 11 where the expansion of the air permits the grain to fall into the duct 18,

while the air itself passes through the screen 35 into the duct 15* and so to the blower, being discharged through the duct 17. The grain gravitates through the duct 18 into the chamber 23 and from thence passes out through the throat 19 into the discharge stream of air from the blower and is carried thereby to the desired high point. while the column of grain within the duct 18 is of sufiicient height to prevent any circulation of air through the duct 18 from the pressure side of the blower toward the suction side thereof.

The structureshown in Figs. 5 and 6 is disclosed in my application No. 703,044, filed June 11, 1912, and to this extent the present application is a continuation of the said prior application.

\Vhat is claimed is l. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a discharge pipe leading therefrom to a point of disposal of the material being elevated, a suction pipedesigned to receive the material to be elevated, and connected with the intake side of the fan or blower, said pipe including an expansion chamber, and a pipe extending between the expansion chamber and the outlet or discharge pipe of the fan or blower and of a height to provide a column of material therewithin of a weight to nullify the difference of air pressure between the outlet of the fan or blower and the expansion chamber.

In a pneumatic elevator, a fan or blower, and a feeding duct leading to both the intake and discharge ends of the fan or blower, the portion of the duct connected to the discharge end of the blower extending to such a height above said connection as to provide for a column of material in the duct of a weight to counterbalance the effect of the suction at the intake'end of the fan or blower.

3. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower having a discharge pipe leading in an upward direction to the desired high point of disposal, an intake pipe adapted to lead to the material to be elevated and provided with a downwardly extending portion leading into the uprising discharge pipe and including an expansion chamber at the high point of the downwardly leading duct, and a duct. leading-from a high point of the expansion chamber to the intake of the fan or blower, the duct leading into the dis charge pipe from the intake pipe being of a height to provide a column of grain-of a weight to operate as an automatic check counterbalancing the difference between the pressure and suction sides of the blower.

4. In a pneumatic elevator, a fan or blower, a feeding duct leading to the intake and discharge ends of the fan or blower with the portion of the duct connected to the discharge end of the blower extending to such a height above such connection as to provide for a column of material in the duct of a weight to there counterbalance the effect of the suction at the intake end of the fan or blower, and a valve in and near the lower end of the duct leading to the discharge end of the fan or blower, said valve being responsive to be closed by return air streams in said duct.

A. pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower. a casing thereon inclosing an expansion chamber, battles within the expansion chamber stopping short of both the top and bottom thereof, a duct leading from the upper portion of the expansion chamber to the intake of the fan or blower, an inlet duct opening into the space in the expansion chamberbelow the baflles, and another duct leading from the space in the expansion chamber below the baflies at a point remote from the intake duct and extending in a downward direction to and communicating with the outlet or pressure side of the fan or blower.

6. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower. a casing thereon inclosing anexpansion chamber, baflies within the expansion chamber stopping short of both the top and bottom thereof, a duct leading from the upper portion of the expansion chamber to the intake of the fan or blower, an inlet duct communicating with the expansion chamber at a low point and opening into the space therein below the baltles, and another duct leading from the space in the expansion chamber below the battles at a point remote from the intake duct and extending in a downward direction to and communicating with the outlet or pressure side of the fan or blower, said last named duct being provided with a valve for closing it against flow of air from the outlet side of the blower toward the intake side thereof.

7. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a casing above the fan or blower and having a series of transverse bat'fles therein stopping short of the top and bottom of said casing, air ducts connecting the to portion of the casing with the intake '0 the fan or blower, an inlet duct leading into the casing at a lowpoint thereof and communicating directly with the space below the bafiies, and another duct leading from a like low point of the casing to that at which the inlet duct enters and in a downward direction and opening into the discharge side of the blower.

8. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a casing above the fan or blower and having a series of transverse baflies therein stopping short of the top and bottom of said casing, air ducts connecting the top portion of the casing with the intake of the fan or blower,'an inlet duct leading into the casing at a low point thereof communicating directly with the space therein below the ba'files, and another duct leading from a like low point of the casing to that at which the inlet duct enters in a downward direction and opening into the discharge side of the blower, the last-named duct having a contracted throat. where opening into the discharge side of the blower.

9. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan orblower, a casing above the fan or blower and having a series of transverse bafiles therein stopping short of the top and bottom of said casing, air ducts connecting the top portion of the casing with the intake of the fan or blower, an inlet duct leadin into the casing at a low point thereof an communicating directly with the space therein below the baflies, another duct leading from a like low point of the casing to that at which the inlet duct enters in a downward direction and opening into the discharge side of the blower, the last-named duct having a contracted throat where opening into the discharge side of the blower, and a valve in the last-named duct adjacent to the contracted throat and responsive to close against the passage of air streams in a direction toward the casing on top of the blower.

10. A pneumatic elevator provided with a fan or blower having a duct extending between the suction and pressure sides of the fan or blower and including means for the separation of material from air streams passing to the fan or blower, said diu'cti being of a height on the pressure side of the fan or" blower to provide a column of ma terial being elevated of a weight to counteract the dilference in pressure between the suction and pressure sides of thefan or blower- 11. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, casingjthereon inclosing an expansion chamber, a duct leading from the upper portion of the expansion chamber to the intake of the fan or blower, an inlet duct communicating with the expansion chamber at a low point thereof and another duct leading from a low part of the expansion chamber at a point remote from the intake duct and extending in a downward direction to and communicating with the outlet or pressure side of the fan or blower, said last-named duct being provided with a valve for closing it against flow of air from the outlet side of the blower toward the intake side thereof.

12. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a casing above the fan or blower, air duct connections from the top portion of the casing to the intake of the fan or blower, a duct leading into the easing at a low point thereon and another duct leading from a low point of the easing in a downward direction and opening into the discharge side of the blower, the last-named duct having a contracted throat where opening into the discharge side of the blower.

13. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a casing above the fan or blower, means for directing air from a high point of the casing to the intake of the fan or blower, means for leading air and material to be elevated into the casing at a low point therein, a duct leading from the casing at a low point thereof distant from the inlet to the casing and. opening into the discharge side of the blower, said duct having a valve therein adjacent to its point of communication with the outlet side of the fan or blower andresponsive to close against the passage of air streams-from the blower toward the casing on top of the latter.

14. A pneumatic elevator comprising a fan or blower, a casing above the fan or blower, air duct connections from the top portion of the casing to the intake side of the fan or blower, a duct leading into the casing at a low point thereof, another duct leading from a low point of the casing-in a downward direction and opening into the discharge side of the blower and there having a contracted throat, and a valve in the last-named duct adjacent to the contracted throat and responsive to close against the passage of air streams in a direction toward the casing on top of the blower.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HENRY G. LYKKEN.

Witnesses:

P. E. HENWOOD, W. S. HOLMES.- 

